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Leeds United could finally be set to kickstart their significant summer spending, as they close in on a man capable of ushering in Daniel Farke's new era.

Is Ethan Ampadu still a Chelsea player?

That's according to journalist Phil Hay, who took to Twitter to confirm Nizaar Kinsella's earlier claim that they will make Ethan Ampadu their first senior signing of the summer.

He would write:

"Leeds United and Chelsea reach agreement over a deal for Ethan Ampadu. Initial fee of around £7m with add-ons attached. Clears the way for a medical and for Ampadu to become the club's first signing of the summer."

With the 22-year-old having failed to establish himself as a first-team member since joining the Blues in 2017, this move could finally mark an opportunity for the defender to reignite a career that once promised much.

The 6 foot 1 ace has just one year left on his £37k-per-week deal.

What position is Ethan Ampadu?

One of the outstanding qualities of the Wales international is his impeccable versatility, given his ability to star in a number of roles.

Across a tumultuous career, where he has ventured out on four separate loan moves since moving to Stamford Bridge, he has featured at right-back, defensive midfield and his preferred centre-back.

Of those spells, whilst the two in Italy did allow him to impress, his year at Sheffield United will likely be of most interest to fans seeking to get a taste of his qualities within English football.

Featuring 25 times in the Premier League during the 2020/21 season, in which the Blades finished rock bottom, he would maintain a 6.95 average rating massively boosted through his two interceptions, 2.3 tackles and 3.3 clearances per game, via Sofascore. This made him their highest-rated player that year.

Even before this, Ryan Giggs had sought to praise him by claiming: "He’s a future leader and it’s great to see him get minutes on the pitch. It’s my hope that he’ll get more games and he’ll get better."

To pair such imperious solidity with the equally staunch Max Wober, it could pose a frightening prospect for the rest of the Championship.

Few strikers would relish facing a pairing boasting this much quality.

After all, the Austria international, who only moved to Elland Road in January, took no time at all to acclimatise to the physicality of English football.

His 6.84 average rating made him the club's third-best performer of those who started five or more games, as he too would record 1.7 interceptions and four clearances per game, via Sofascore.

From conceding the most goals in the division last term, such a signing would go a long way towards rectifying the fragility that has plagued the club for some time.

With Ampadu yet to realise the immense potential that he commanded when bursting onto the Premier League scene as a 17-year-old, perhaps the alleviated pressure that a permanent move down the football pyramid would bring could prove vital in revitalising a career still very much in its infancy.

After all, former professional football Paul McVeigh had noted back in 2016: "Footballing world, take note of this young player. Ethan Ampadu. He's going to be very special."

His experience is vast compared to most others of his age, and under the stewardship of promotion-specialist Farke and alongside Wober, all the facets are in place for him to finally start playing the way many know he can at a consistent level.

Newcastle and PSG supporters have clashed in Paris ahead of the two clubs locking horns in Champions League competition.

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Magpies in France for European actionRival fans greeted them in ParisTrouble flared on Monday eveningWHAT HAPPENED?

The Magpies are in the French capital for their latest European outing – having previously savoured a memorable 4-1 victory over the Ligue 1 title holders at St James’ Park. Fans making the trip from England had been urged by Newcastle United Supporters’ Club to “stay safe in Paris” and to “look after each other”.

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Videos on social media appear to show members of the PSG Ultra groups targeting Newcastle followers as they gathered for pre-match drinks in local bars and restaurants. One video shows flares and chairs being thrown as glasses and windows are smashed.

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Another clip that was shared on social media was tagged with the menacing message “PSG ultras looking for the Toon”, with hooded individuals shown prowling the streets of Paris. Local police had advised that pubs designated for away fans should close early in a bid to reduce the risk of trouble.

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It is not the first time that Newcastle fans have become targets for continental rivals this season, with one Magpies supporter being stabbed during a visit to Milan on Matchday One. Eddie Howe’s side have taken four points from as many games in Group F and have work to do in order to reach the last-16.

Kuldeep Yadav has said bowling to MS Dhoni was challenging but he was not scared to be hit for a boundary

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Apr-20171:20

‘Wasn’t afraid of bowling to Dhoni’ – Kuldeep

Kuldeep Yadav could feel the pressure of bowling to MS Dhoni on Wednesday evening. Despite being a spinner, Kuldeep was picked by Gautam Gambhir to bowl the 18th over of Rising Pune Supergiant’s innings with Dhoni and Steven Smith in a partnership of 35 runs from 21 balls. One batsman had regained his touch of smashing sixes in the end overs and the other has not gone out of form since landing in India for the Test series.”If you are a spinner there’s always pressure on you,” Kuldeep said after the match. “As a spinner, I believe that you can put the opposition under pressure by picking wickets. Like in the last over I took two wickets and they were under pressure. Bowling the 18th over is always tough; the captain needs to believe in you for that.”Kuldeep’s first ball to Dhoni in the match, in the 16th over, had been pulled for a flat six over midwicket. In the 18th over, Kuldeep deceived Dhoni with a googly. Dhoni stepped out to get to the pitch of the ball, but it turned away, beat his bat and was stumped.”Bowling to Dhoni is always challenging and I could feel the pressure,” Kuldeep recalled. “But I wasn’t scared that he would hit me for a six or a four. I flighted the ball and I was focused on getting him out.”Three balls later, Kuldeep had Manoj Tiwary on strike, Rising Pune’s best batsman this season in terms of strike rate (with at least five innings). Kuldeep had conceded only three runs in four balls until then in the over and he had Tiwary stumped even though the batsman did not step out to hit him. Kuldeep bowled another googly, Tiwary leaned forward to tuck the ball to the leg side with the spin but the ball went the other way and Tiwary’s back foot was outside the crease.Kuldeep, however, said the conventional legspinner was still his stock delivery as he used the wrong’un and the flipper mainly to get wickets.”It (googly) is only a variation and you can use it in T20s to confuse a batsman when he is attacking,” he said. “But I really believe in my chinaman bowling rather than the wrong’un and flipper. I back my stock ball more and I’m mainly a chinaman bowler; the wrong’un is a variation you use to pick wickets or stop the runs. But my main delivery is chinaman delivery. Obviously, the wrong’un gets you wickets and the batsmen keep wondering if the ball will come in or go out, they find it difficult to pick, especially the overseas batsmen. So if you dismiss Indian batsmen like that, it’s a big boost for confidence.”Kuldeep has so far gone wicketless in just one match this IPL and has collected eight wickets, joint with team-mates Nathan Coulter-Nile and Umesh Yadav, who have had the advantage of a pacer-friendly relaid pitch at Eden Gardens.Kuldeep has had an impressive run since the beginning of the domestic season. He was the highest wicket-taker and the leading run-scorer for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy; he topped the wicket-takers charts in the Duleep Trophy too, with 17 wickets in three matches, and he shone on his Test debut with 4 for 68 against Australia in Dharamsala.”If you play the entire season and you’re highest run-getter or the highest wicket-taker, it becomes easier to play on the next level because of the momentum you are carrying,” Kuldeep said. “If you aren’t playing domestic cricket you might lack in some places. I’ve played Duleep Trophy, one-dayers, T20s, India A, so this season has been really helpful for me which is why I have a lot of confidence.”Knight Riders will play their next match against Delhi Daredevils on Friday.

Liverpool are considering a swoop for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone this summer, with the French ace linked with a move to Anfield of late.

What's the latest on Manu Kone to Liverpool?

According to reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano, who recently took to Twitter to state that Kone is "in the list", and that while the likes of the elegant Gabri Veiga have been touted, a "more physical midfielder" is required at present.

Valued at around £35m by his German Bundesliga outfit, Kone is also attracting the attention of Premier League outfits Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers after impressing this season.

BILD's Christian Falk also confirmed that Gladbach are hoping that Jurgen Klopp's Reds will make an offer for the 22-year-old, securing his services for a lucrative fee.

Should Liverpool sign Manu Kone?

Following the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the need for midfield reinforcement under Klopp has never been greater, and while the astute £35m signing of Alexis Mac Allister has been the perfect way to set the pace, further arrivals are likely to be forthcoming.

Kone could be the man of the hour if his signature is indeed gleaned, with the robust centre-midfielder recording a respectable average rating of 6.86 – as per Sofascore – completing 87% of his passes, averaging 2.5 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game and succeeding with 60% of his attempted dribbles.

An unflinching conductor of play, Kone is not the most prolific of midfielders, but dazzles with his tenacity in the tackle and his adept driving ability, ranking among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90 (FBref), illustrating his dynamism and leaving talent scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as a “one-man army”.

Also remarked to be a "majestic" gem with a whole lot of "swagger" about him by journalist Antonio Mango, the £6k-per-week engine could be the dream heir to Jordan Henderson's role in the midfield, with the 33-year-old Reds captain ostensibly heading for a more peripheral role despite the side's recent outgoings.

Indeed, this transfer would certainly represent bad news for the 76-cap England international who only started 23 times in the top-flight this term, despite the glaring weaknesses in the red half of Merseyside's centre, and he has even been said to have "got skinned" this season by Journalist Tony McDonough, highlighting his growing inefficacy against progressive, mercurial players.

The distinguished star did record an average Sofascore rating of 6.88 in the Premier League this term, and while he completed 85% of his passes, he only averaged 0.9 tackles and 0.6 interceptions per outing.

Kone is more robust and boasts heaps of energy and exuberance, and while the leadership skills of Liverpool's £140k-per-week veteran will still come in handy as Klopp looks to reshape his team, Kone can slot into the fold, take a starting berth and make it his own, eventually displacing Henderson and emphasising the new era at the club.

Arsenal have now turned their attention to Romeo Lavia after holding internal discussions about their transfer plans, according to reports…

Arsenal transfer news – Romeo Lavia

The Gunners are believed to be pushing to seal a deal West Ham United captain Declan Rice as their first priority but according to The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg, manager Mikel Arteta is keen to sign two midfielders, having also been linked to Brighton & Hove Albion gem Moises Caicedo.

It's now thought the north London outfit have shifted their focus onto other players due to the sizeable sum it would take to secure the Ecuador international, as per the aforementioned report. Lavia is one potential alternative, with talks being held about making a potential move to bring the relegated Southampton star to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

The Sun, meanwhile, claim the Belgian midfielder is valued at around £45m by the Saints and is viewed by Arteta as 'a better option' than Caicedo.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are also keen to sign Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz, with the German said to be "very close" to joining, whilst the north Londoners are said to be in pole position to land Moussa Diaby of Bayer Leverkusen too.

Should Arsenal sign Romeo Lavia over Moises Caicedo?

Lavia was perhaps one of Southampton's only shining lights in what was a dismal Premier League campaign, one which saw them relegated to the Championship for the first time in 11 years.

The former Manchester City youth product was second to only James Ward-Prowse when it came to the average match rating of the Saints' engine room options and similarly, he ranked second for tackles per game (2.1) too, as per WhoScored.

Such impressive form saw Independent journalist Benjy Nurick hail the teenage sensation as an "absolute monster" and it also led to him picking up his first cap for the Red Devils back in March 2023.

Lavia grew up idolising Spain powerhouse Sergio Busquets and that is quite apparent when watching him play, with the same reporter waxing lyrical about his qualities as a defensive midfielder, taking to Twitter to say: "Always offering himself as an option to the defence, great range of passing, and a devastating turn away from markers with a little drop of his shoulder."

At just £45m, the dynamic 5 foot 11 enforcer would represent a shrewd piece of business, especially with Brighton looking 122% more (£100m) for Caicedo.

Lavia is not only younger, fitting in with Arteta's developmental project, but he has also come through an all too familiar system at City, where the Spaniard was Pep Guardiola's assistant prior to taking the helm at the Emirates Stadium.

These factors could indeed make him a better option than Caicedo this summer.

Chelsea target Moises Caicedo will not be sold for £100m+ this summer but is expected to cost in the region of £70m-£80m from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Will Moises Caicedo be allowed to leave?

The Ecuadorian midfielder has enjoyed an impressive campaign on the south coast which has seen the Seagulls manage to secure a spot in the Europa League for next season.

Caicedo featured in 37 of Brighton's Premier League games this season and started in a whopping 34 of them (via Transfermarkt).

However, it does seem he could be set to leave this summer despite the prospect of European nights to come at the Amex Stadium next season.

Brighton have already seen Alexis Mac Allister depart this summer after the Argentine completed a £35m move to Liverpool on Thursday.

And it is believed that they will not stand in the way of the 21-year-old, Caicedo, who is expected to bring in considerably more money than his former teammate, Mac Allister.

Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has provided some insight towards a potential move from the south coast to west London with Chelsea believed to be seriously interested:

"Chelsea are absolutely into the race. Chelsea are convinced that Caicedo is kind of perfect player for the idea.

What's the point? I heard something about £100m value for Caicedo. No, the idea from sources I spoke to is that Caicedo is gonna be worth maybe £70m/£80m no more than this."

Who is interested in Caicedo?

Of course, Chelsea have been credited with interest in the Ecuadorian midfielder ahead of the summer window but there are also other reported suitors.

According to Romano, there is interest also coming from other Premier League sides with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United keen on the 21-year-old.

This comes just months after the Gunners made a serious move Caicedo in the January transfer window which saw two bids – worth up to £70m – rejected by the Seagulls.

It is also believed Arsenal are set to launch their first bid for Declan Rice over the coming days but it has previously been suggested this would not deter their interest in Caicedo.

The Blues will not have any form of European football ahead of the new campaign, however, they will likely provide a financial battle to match any other side.

Todd Bohely's willingness to invest the cash into Chelsea since his arrival cannot be ignored with the Blues having spent around £600m over the last two transfer windows.

With N'Golo Kante expected to leave the club over the coming days and the likes of Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher also linked with potential moves away, the door could certainly open up for the Ecuadorian at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal "appreciate" Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo, with the full-back set to be on the move this summer, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Who will Joao Cancelo sign for?

There are a number of top clubs interested in signing Cancelo, with Barcelona said to be monitoring the situation, and the Spanish club are willing to enter the race for his signature if they are able to sign him on an initial loan deal.

The same report outlines that Real Madrid are in the market for a new right-back, and the player's representatives have been exploring a move to the Bernabeu, with Man City unlikely to reintegrate him into the squad next season.

Arsenal have also been named as potential suitors, having held talks with City about a potential swap deal including Kieran Tierney, and there has now been an update on their pursuit of the 29-year-old.

Taking to Twitter, Romano has now confirmed that Bayern Munich will not choose to make the Portugal international's stay permanent for €70m (£60m) this summer, potentially giving the Gunners a boost in the race for his signature. The transfer guru said:

"Understand Manchester City are ready to sell João Cancelo this summer. He will return from Bayern, €70m buy option won’t be triggered.

"Arsenal appreciate Cancelo, he’s one of the names in the list.

"Barca have genuine interest since January but… depends on FFP."

Should Arsenal sign Cancelo?

Journalist David Ornstein claimed it was a "complete shock" when the full-back completed a loan move to Bayern during the January transfer window, as he was an important player for City, making 17 Premier League appearances prior to his exit.

That said, the £250k-per-week defender did put in some very poor performances before his departure, making an error leading to the only goal of the game away at Anfield, and being shown a straight red card against Fulham.

As such, there may be some concern about signing the former Juventus man, but it must be noted that his dip in form was only brief, and he has previously proven himself as a top player, averaging a 7.33 SofaScore rating in the Premier League last season.

Hailed as a "beast" by members of the media, Cancelo is a real danger on the front foot, ranking in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, so he could be an excellent signing for Arsenal, and it looks as if it will be one to keep an eye on.

The Barmy Army, a group of travelling England fans, has said it will not be following the team on tour in Bangladesh owing to prevailing security concerns

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2016The Barmy Army, a group of travelling England fans, has said it will not be following the team on tour in Bangladesh owing to prevailing security concerns. A statement on the group’s website said that while the BCB had taken an interest in improving security for fans, the “measures do not yet go far enough to persuade us to go against FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) advice.”The development came two days after England ODI captain Eoin Morgan and opening batsman Alex Hales said they would not be travelling to Bangladesh either, despite the ECB saying the tour would go ahead, following an assessment of the security measures in place.”Behind the scenes we have been liaising with the ECB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and have now received advice from the latter,” the Barmy Army said. “We have been supplied with a list of hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong that will receive protection from the Bangladesh Police and been told that England supporters will be afforded their own segregated area within the stadium.”However on the issue of escorts to and from stadiums (where due to local traffic conditions supporters will be most vulnerable to attack), we have been supplied with the contact details of a private security company, the implication being that any extra security will have be at supporter’s own expense. Whilst we are grateful that the BCB are taking an interest, we feel these measures do not yet go far enough to persuade us to go against FCO advice.”It is a matter of great regret that we feel unable to endorse travel to Bangladesh. Those of us lucky enough to have visited this country on previous tours have lasting and fond memories of a warm welcome, friendly locals and wonderful food. Perhaps the greatest pleasure being able to mix freely with the general population, particularly in and around the stadiums. We were also able to wander and explore the teeming cities of Dhaka and Chittagong without fear. FCO advice specifically warns against such activities.”The concerns over security for England’s tour of Bangladesh began after Dhaka, the nation’s capital, suffered a terrorist attack in July that left many dead. Australia had also cancelled their tour to the country at the end of last year and had pulled out of the Under-19 World Cup this year due to security concerns.

Tottenham Hotspur have 'explored' making a move for Burnley boss Vincent Kompany as Spurs weigh up replacements for Antonio Conte, according to Alasdair Gold.

What's the latest on Kompany to Spurs?

The Belgian has been mentioned as a fairly new target by the press in recent weeks, with a report by The Sun even recently stating that he is one of the favourites.

Kompany's name is just one of many to have been linked with a move to Spurs as quartet Mauricio Pochettino, Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane stand out as the most elite options.

Of course, there will be much competition to appoint the aforementioned quartet, especially considering Chelsea are now also on the hunt for a new manager after sacking Graham Potter. There have also been murmurs that Carlo Ancelotti could leave Real Madrid, potentially opening up yet another job for the likes of Pochettino and Nagelsmann.

That could come as a worry for Spurs with more left-field options like Roberto De Zerbi (Brighton) and Fulham boss Marco Silva are also attracting chairman Daniel Levy's interest. Indeed, Kompany may well also fit into the mould of a solid candidate close to home.

Now, reliable journalist Gold has shared what he knows on the matter, writing in a piece for football.london.

He claims that Tottenham have 'explored' making a move for Kompany, who is currently in pole position to clinch the Championship with Burnley. Interestingly, the 36-year-old's 'trusted colleague' Simon Davies is already at Spurs and making a positive impact as head of coaching methodology.

What could Kompany bring to Spurs?

The former Man City captain and Blues legend has already been praised for his attacking brand of football with Pep Guardiola even tipping him for the Etihad hot seat.

Kompany's Burnley side have taken England's second tier by storm, scoring more goals and winning more games than any other side in the division.

It's little surprise top Premier League clubs like Spurs are taking note of his exploits, especially since this is only Kompany's first full season managing in England.

Called an 'incredible' figure by Guardiola, the former Anderlecht boss' career is one to watch with great interest, but we believe his lack of experience could also count against him.

Amid what is a very turbulent time at Spurs, with sporting director Fabio Paratici also taking a back seat until his appeal hearing, a safer pair of hands like Pochettino would come as far less of a gamble.

Journalist Gabriele Marcotti has questioned why Barcelona would want to bring Lionel Messi back to the club in their current financial situation.

What's going on with Messi and Barcelona?

The Argentine superstar is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, and reports have emerged that the 35-year-old wants to return to the Camp Nou.

Messi has 18 goals and 17 assists this season, but has been blamed in some quarters for PSG's disappointing Champions League exit.

Barcelona are currently in a tricky financial situation, as they have to lower their wage bill significantly to even register midfielder Gavi, meaning new signings may have to wait until the problems can be resolved.

Speaking on ESPN FC (1.10), Marcotti questioned why Barcelona would choose to sign Messi, who currently earns £1.1m-per-week, given their financial troubles.

"In terms of having Messi back on anything like the salary that he has now, that wouldn't be just be one step backwards, that would be 10 steps backwards," he stated.

"Given Barcelona's financial reality, given the investment that they've made in the position that Messi plays, in terms of the wingers that they have there from Dembele to Raphinha to Ferran Torres to Ansu Fati, it simply makes zero sense,"

Do Barcelona need another attacker?

Barcelona are well stocked on the wings, with two natural wingers on both sides, and midfielders Pedri and Gavi both able to play out wide.

Upfront they have veteran Robert Lewandowski, with Fati and Torres both capable of filling in through the middle. Overall, they area well stocked in attack, and given their financial situation, unless there are outgoings in this position, a return for Messi seems counter-productive.

Although Messi's output this season has been higher than any current Barcelona attacker, given his age, it may not be a viable long-term solution to tear up the squad to be able to fit him in.

An emotional return for the Barcelona legend would excite both Messi and the club's fans, but it would be a deal which could harm the club further down the line given the finances involved.

If the club decide to move one of the current attackers on, such as Raphinha, to make room for Messi, it may be a move which they regret further down the line. Xavi has so far managed to build a team which has shown a lot of promise for the future, with his side 12 points clear at the top of the table, and an expensive return for Messi could jeopardise this.